updated 6-12-25 at 10:42 a.m.
There are several layers to the way Louisville city officials are discussing the No Kings protests scheduled for Saturday, June 14. The protests are in response to the ridiculous, expensive, and dangerous policies of Trump. The protests are scheduled to take place in every state in the nation, as well as in Mexico, Canada, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. More areas will likely follow in the coming days.
Louisville’s Mayor Craig Greenberg says that he “supports” peaceful protest, but says, “We will not tolerate in Louisville… I will not tolerate… LMPD will not tolerate damage to property. We will not tolerate risk and danger to others.”
What’s he aiming at?
Protests around the nation have been overall peaceful, as is most often the case. There are always those who try to incite violence and infiltrate peaceful gatherings to cause trouble. As protests against Trump’s policy grow, so do the risks of those not associated with the planned events, causing trouble. Sometimes, those people belong to the very organizations called to “keep the peace.”
WLKY reported that the protests are “anti-ICE” protests, which is only part of the picture. The protests are about the illegal activities of ICE, kidnapping (ahem, trafficking) children and their parents (who have no connection to the stated “gang activities” that Trump and his administration have claimed ICE is looking for), but also the protests intend to call attention to the blatant disrespect of this administration to court orders, the Constitution of the nation, and for the right to assemble and to dissent. In addition, the protests are against giving Trump a dictator’s parade on the dollars of the American people.
WLKY and others’ oversimplification begets ignorance and misinformation about why these events are happening. Don’t fall for narratives that are too simple. They are so often wrong.
Ever the pearl-clutching hyperbolic diva, City Councilman Anthony Piagentini said on his Facebook page in anticipation of the event that “there is no permit” and cautions people about going downtown.
Like most cities, protests tend to happen in a small area, and the entirety of what constitutes Downtown Louisville is likely to be unaffected by any gathering.
He’s doing the work to destroy the glimmer of hope Downtown Louisville has for its future as the city center. Protests signal a healthy urban environment, but Piagentini wants folks to hide in their enclaves, like he plans to do. He’s shocked that people are allowed to protest. Flummoxed, I tell you.
Piagentini on Facebook:
Piagentini is a weird man, like so many Republicans are, and like Mayor Greenberg is certainly turning out to be as well. Concern-trolling is such a bad look.
And his fellow Republican Councilman Kalil Batshon, a member of Southeast Christian Church, who represents District 25 in Southwest Jefferson County, had his own moment of pouting and foot-stomping.
The comment section, rightfully responded quickly.
Batshon has his reasons to align himself here. Pitting brown people against other brown people has fooled so many into thinking they are protected from harm. That’s another conversation.
There is no need to threaten or flex warnings in a situation like this unless, for some crazy reason, LMPD and city officials are planning to, as they have in the past, heighten the tensions of the situation.
Protestors should go in knowing their rights. Permits are a buzzword and only apply in some situations. Most protests in public spaces do not need permits.
As many of us turn our attention to these events, we should certainly be looking for evidence and instances of aggression from the so-called “peacekeepers.”
More than that, we should gather the facts about the protests taking place, join or don’t. However, we have to stop jumping into snake pits with these pit vipers in our local and federal government. They exaggerate too often and protect their interests over the people who elected them with the same regularity.
If violence breaks out at Saturday’s protests, bet on the fact that the ones causing the issue are not on the side of the planned peaceful protests, but invited in by someone looking for a reason to further curtail the rights of American citizens.
That’s happened on repeat throughout history. Greenberg, Piagentini, Batshon, and others are trying to spin a yarn before the sheep has even been shaved.
